Electric hand lantern



March 24, 1931. w. F. szasr ELECTRIC HAND LANTERN 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 9. 1929 March 24, 1931. w GE|5T 1,797,499

ELECTRIC HAND LANTERN Filed March 9. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 24 ill gnuemtor M fi'eis f Patented Mar. 24, 1931 I I UNITED STATES rare I WILLIAM F. GEIST, OF HUT'CHINSON, KANsAs ELECTRIC HAND LANTERN Application filed March 9, 1929. Serial No. 345,781.-

This invention relates to the class of illuwith a lantern of the type embodying the mination andpertains particularly to an impresent invention. proved type of electric hand lantern. Referring to the drawings in detail where- The primary object of this invention is to in like numerals ofreference indicate corprovide an improved hand lantern of the elecresponding parts throughout the several trio type which, while adapted for any use, views, thenumer'al 1 indicates a circular body is designed primarily for the use of trainof insulation, such for example as hard rubmen. t ber, bakelite or the like which constitutes the Another object of the invention is to probottom of thebattery casing or chamber of 10 vide an electric lanternhaving an improved the lantern. 7 type of body construction which will effec- As shown, this bottom has formed theretively protect the lighting or illuminating about ad acent the top the inwardly inclined unit and the battery therefor and which may or bevelled shoulder 2, which connects with at-the same'time be quickly and easily opened the annular top portion 3 which is concen- Another object of the invention is to prothe shoulder and of less diameter, as shown. vide an improved means for controlling or The central portion of this insulation base has switching on or off the light as desired. an aperture 4 formed therethrou h and see- A further object of the invention is to procured over the top of the base is a inetal confor; the replacement of a battery. trio with the portion ofithe base lying below v to vide an electric lantern of strong and dutact plate 5, the central portion thereof hav- 7,0

rable construction which will be relatively mg an aperture Gformed therethrough which light in weight and designed to give the maxcoincides with the aperture 4 of the base. imum of service. V p Any suitable securing devices mayv be em- 1 V The invention will be best understood from plcyedfor attaching this collar orplate 5 to 25 a consideration of the following detailed dethe base, such for example as the screwsl 4 s'cription taken in" connection with the ac- The edge of the base 1 below the shoulder companying drawings forming apart of this 2 thereof is provided with series of threaded specification, with the understanding, howbores 8, each of which is designed to receive :1 ever, that the invention is not confined to threaded post or stud 9 for the purpose herer 30 any strict conformity with the showing of inafter more fully described. ,VVhile any the drawings but may be changed or modified number of these posts 9 maybe attached to so long as such changes'or modifications mark the base, four may be employed, as shown, no material departure from the salient feawith good results. 1 V tures of the invention as expressed inthe ap- Overlying the under face of the base 1 is a 55 pended claim. g I reflectorplate 10, the same being preferably 35 In the drawmgs: p of nickeled brass. The peripheral portion of F g r 1 A Ylew' lo gi udinal Section the reflector plate 10 is turned upwardly as (if h h l n n l yi g his inVeIlindicated at 11 and has its top edge bent in I ti'on; v v I over the shoulder 2 of the base, as indicated Figure 2 1s a bottom plan view of the Ianat 12. Suitable openings are formed through tern; p g p theupturned portion 11 to permit of the ex- Figure 3 s an enlarged sectional view tension'therethrough'of the bolts or studs 9. through one side of the wall of insulation and At its central portion the reflector plate 10 x a portion'of the battery cas ng; is provided with the downwardly extending F gl 4 1S a d tailed view of one end of dome 13 which is of the same diameter as the the tubular handle showing the manner in opening 4 through the base 1 and this dome lllCh the same is formed for attachment to at its central-portion is provided with an the casing. opening 14- surrounded by a depending Figure 5 is 'an' end elevational view of a threaded flange 15 which is designed to rebattery uni-t adapted-for use in colinectibn ceive the ba e 015 aaincajndescent lamp 16.

The dome or bulged central portion 13 of the reflector plate does not extend a great distance from the plate, it being preferable that its radius be not more than one-half inch.

The numeral 17 indicates the battery chamber or casing for the present lantern structure which casing is, as shown, of cylindrical formation closed at one end, as indicated at 18 andadapted to have its other or open end normally closed by the base 1. The lower or free edge of the casing 17 is flared, as indicated at 19 to conform to the shape of the base 1, thus providing an obliquely angled portion which overlies the outer end of the casing, this terminal portion being rolled or otherwise suitably formed, as indicated at 20 to eliminate the sharp edge which would be formed by leaving the edge of the metal of the casing in its original condition.

The flared portion 19 of the battery casing is provided with a series of slots or recesses 21 which permit of its being engaged over the belts or studs 9 projecting from the edge of the base and when the casing is placed in position on the base with the flared portion engaging the studs or belts in the manner described, there is then applied to each of the bolts a holding nut 22, which when drawn up securely bind the casing'base and reflector together.

The battery casing or chamber 17 has attached thereto a handle member which is indicated as a whole by the numeral 23, this handle being of inverted substantially U- shaped formation and preferably constructed of suitable tubular material such as copper tubing or the like. The yoke portion of the handle loops up over the upper end of the casing and the ends thereof which are split, as indicated at 24: and opened out to form an attaching plate 25, are riveted or otherwise suitably secured to the wall of the battery casin adjacent the lower edge thereof.

Between each of the legs of the handle and the battery casing a suitable supporting bracket 26 is positioned which makes the connection between the handle and easing firmer so thatloosening of the handle cannot take place.

There is formed through the wall of th battery casing at. a point to open into the ad- 7 jacent end of one leg of the handle 23, an

opening 27. Through this opening 27 which as is shown in Figure 1 is arranged in substantially the same plane or slightly abovethe metal plate 5, one end of a contact strip 28 extends. This contact or switch strip of metal extends upwardly in the leg of the handle and at its upper end is formed to provide a'series of loops or curves 29 which fric tionally engage the inner wall of the casing handle and hold the strip in position.

Opening through a suitable opening in the handle at the outer end of the leg through which the metal switch strip 28 passes, is a shiftable body 29 through which is formed a suitable opening or passage for the extension there-through of the switch strip. A screw 30 is threaded into the bot y 29 and binds the switch strip in position and the head of this screw extends outwardly from the side of the handle providing a manipulating button by means of which the body and the attached switch strip may be shifted in the handle desired.

Secured to the battery casing or chamber 1'? adjacent the lower portion thereof to extend outwardly and downwardly therefrom is a plurality of'supporting legs 31. The lower end of each of these legs is looped to receive a supporting base ring 32, the body of which passes through the loops 33 of the legs in the manner shown. In this manner a broad supporting base frame is provided for the lantern which will support the same a suitable distance above the ground or surface upon which the lantern may be set to protect the incandescent lamp 16 from damage.

From the foregoing description it will be readily understood that after positioning the incandescent lamp 16 in position with its base threadedly engaged in the sleeve 15 in the central portion of the reflector plate, the battery cell 34 may be then positioned head down upon the plate 5 with the central spring contact 35 thereof extending downwardly through the opening as at 4- for contact with the base of the lamp, the other contact tongue 36 of the battery engaging the plate 5 in the manner shown in Figure 1.

After replacement of the casing 17 on the base 1 and securing it in position by the nuts 22 contact may then be set up by manipulation ofjthe switch button 30 to produce a flow of current through the incandescentlamp, this contact being brought about by shifting the strip 28 downwardly in the handle of the lantern until the lower end extendsthrough the aperture 27 of the casing 17 engaging the plate 5. The current from the battery then flows from the plate to the'contact strip, through the casing and reflectorplate to the outside or shell of the incandescent lamp, then through the filament of the lamp and back to the battery through the central contact of the lamp base to the central contact 35 of the battery in engagement therewith. It is, of course, understood that a suificient space must be left between the casing 17 and the edge of the plate 5 to prevent contact of these members, otherwise the current circuit will remain closed resulting in continuous burning of the lamp.

Having described my invention,- what I claim is A hand lantern of thecharacter described, comprising a bottom of insulation material having a shoulder formed thereabout adjacent the top edge thereof, a metal contact bottom, a plate covering the under surface of the bottom and having an upturned edge portion overlying said shoulder, a battery casing open at one end and having a portion of the wall offset and joined thereto by an oblique portion designed to rest upon the shoulder overlying portion of the second plate, said bottom and contact plate having a central aperture therethrough for the extension through the bottom of a contact of a battery in the casing, a second contact of the battery engaging said plate, means forming a part of said second plate for mounting an incandescent bulb centrally of the aperture in said base, fastening elements securing the ofiset portion of said casing about the base, and switch means for establishing an electrical connection between the incandescent bulb holding means and said contact plate.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature.

WILLIAM F. GEIST. 

